Xavier Lopez: finding the hope in Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train

16 Feb 2020 - Photos by Dahlia Katz

At the centre of the intense production of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train is Xavier Lopez who is making his Soulpepper debut in a very demanding role. "When the audition request came in and I had a chance to read the piece I was taken aback," says Lopez. "The voices seemed so familiar. I couldn’t put the text down. I never thought I would actually get to play Angel, but the chance to prep for it seemed like a dream not to mention the potential to work with Soulpepper's artistic director Weyni Mengesha [A Streetcar Named Desire]."

That opportunity paid off. "The text is rhythmic," says Lopez. "Weyni was plugged into that rhythm and really helped guide us, moving more and more towards truth and specificity. She gave us the room to mess around and explore but we always had to stay as true to every piece of punctuation. Weyni is brilliant and she brought a laser focus to our work that kept us pushing and pushing. I have a deep respect for her talent and wisdom."

It was also a chance to interpret an admired and award-winning text. "I play Angel Cruz," says Lopez,  "the play partially follows his journey being incarcerated and the trials that follow. From the very beginning Angel’s voice jumped off of the page. Stephen Adly Guirgis [Between Riverside and Crazy] writes his punctuation and text like music. Every period, comma, exclamation mark is notation. So a lot of work was just trying to get that in my mind and body. Angel’s power is in his words so it was very important to get the text under me before I could move on to anything else."

It was a bit harrowing because of the intensity of the text and the prison setting. "During rehearsals the themes and journey of the show could get a bit hard to live in," says Lopez. "We went through the script closely which meant long days of sustained intense discussions and high stake exploration. You do your best to be unaffected but when that is on your mind and all your down time is spent researching and contemplating the same heartbreaking truths, it does get to you. It’s a piece that isn’t afraid to show you things you that maybe are usually conveniently kept out of sight. There is an ongoing thread in the show of “discarding things,” individuals included. It feels like we are in a time where we are being challenged to define where we stand. Each of these characters believes in their own truths and as the play challenges them the audience is challenged as well."

'A' Train also features an A-list of actors who Lopez is eager to rave about. "Diana Donnelly [Lear] is so incredibly skilled and tuned as a performer that in rehearsal, more than once, I forgot my lines being lost in her work. Daren A Herbert [Onegin, If/Then, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata] never throws in the towel. There were days where I felt like I was scraping the bottom of my emotional well with nothing left and there he was ready to rumble every time. His role demands so much and watching him develop his performance taught me a lot. Gregory Prest [A Streetcar Named Desire, Little Menace, Rose, Bed and Breakfast, La Bete] is hilarious. He can read a room like no one else. His performances have been a joy to watch and he makes it look so effortless. Such a welcomed energy in the room. Tony Nappo [Mustard] helped me out a lot. There are parts in every show that actors struggle with. Tony always knew just what to say to get me back on track. I have learned so much from each and every person attached to this project."

Lopez is not only making his debut, he is also the first trans actor to stride Soulpepper's stages. "It was strange to hear that that I was the first out trans actor to have this opportunity," he says. "There is such a wealth of talented trans artists in this city that it was only a matter of time. I still remember the days when every audition I went on as a latinx actor was for gangsters, gardeners, or maids, all with accents of course. It was a bit disheartening, it felt like maybe that would be it. In an industry built around telling authentic stories, I was being limited by who I was. Slowly things started to change and now we are starting to see characters that carry their latinidad as only one colour of many in a complex portrait."

Lopez continues the thought, "It feels very much like the same battle as a trans actor. We live in a world where cis is the assumed default. So unless the character states they are trans we can’t play them. Think about what that leaves us. While I’m happy to see more and more of us on screen or on stage unless we have creative input if feels like we are still being limited to very particular storylines. We are just asking to be given the chances to audition without being boxed in by the fact that we happen to be trans."

Lopez also has clear thoughts on whether being a 'first' comes with responsibility. "I don’t hide the fact that I’m trans but I understand that my passing privilege affords me a lot. People assume I’m cis and treat me a certain way until I come out to them. It hurts to say but I wonder if sometimes people come to the show, see someone fighting to stand by their actions and take responsibility, see the issues of racism and imbalances of power, the destructive nature of prisons like Rikers and don’t become distracted by whether or not I can believably play a cis man because they assume I am cis. My responsibility, I think, falls in putting on a show with honesty and integrity that challenges, because that impression is actually what might change peoples preconceived ideas on every front."

Lopez's experience as a debut actor at Soulpepper has been extremely positive. "The moment I walked in to audition I was welcomed with nothing but warmth," he says. "I was also very surprised and impressed that the rehearsal process is open to members of the staff. We had individuals form many different departments come in and respectfully share the space and creative process with us. For this particular production, I can say that everyone in the cast, crew and artistic team has watched me fall flat on my face and helped pick me right back up. Always with kindness. The ensemble exists because these people are incredible, dedicated and have huge hearts."

Lopez hopes that audiences, "Just listen and be open to work through the very real circumstances the characters find themselves in. There is a lot that needs to be immediately addressed as far as how we incarcerate people and what happens to them. These conversations may seem uncomfortable for moments but as we see, for a lot of people one conversation can be life altering. The conversations that seem to be happening after the show are the most rewarding part. Theatre is one of those places where you get a very limited time to change minds. Whenever people tell us that they have been left thinking then it feels like maybe there is hope.